Damage at Mohawk Tower may not be repaired for years - if ever

CORNWALL — Hikers, school children and anyone wanting a fantastic photo of mountains fading off into forever can climb the observation tower atop Mohawk Mountain.

At least they could until late last year, when someone — or, more likely, more than one person — attacked the steel-and-wood tower with a chainsaw.

"It was some pretty serious vandalism," said Mike Gunderson, a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Park and Forest Supervisor who oversees Mohawk State Forest. "They cut the heavy posts supporting the roof, and then flipped the roof off. As it fell to the ground, it hit and damaged the main structure."

The bottom flight of stairs was also torn up with the chainsaw. Pieces of wood and metal can still be found on site.

The tower’s plight came to the attention of local residents and state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30). Over the winter, the closed tower was not an issue. But as spring and summer wore on and it remained unrepaired, rumorhad it that the DEP had not made it a priority, and might even take it down. It is viewed by locals as an important tourist attraction.

Roraback, who lives in Goshen and often heads up the mountain, called the tower a "great resource." He had contacted and received a written response from DEP Legislative Liaison Tom Tyler, who said the tower would be repaired as time and funds allowed.

But the tower’s structural integrity is in question.

Gunderson said the tower is slated for repair, but first needs an engineering review.

"We need a full engineering analysis to determine if structural repairs are needed," Gunderson said. "After that is done, we can come up with a repair plan."

He could not offer a time frame for either endeavor.

Only about 30 feet high, the observation tower stands at 1,683 feet above sea level. The date of its construction is vague. It may not have been the first tower on the site. The state forest was established in 1921. Gunderson said it was built for exactly what it is used for now — and not, as some believe, as a fire tower.

It is dwarfed by two communication towers at the site. But it stands out because it is no-tech, sitting in a grassy circle at the very apex of the mountain.

Its three flights of wooden stairs lead to a deck with 360-degree views.

"Six or seven years ago, extensive cutting was done to open up the views to the northwest and southwest," Gunderson said.

There is something about braving those steps that become ladderlike near the top.

And it seems someone is still using the tower. A picnic table dragged beneath it is just high enough to allow access to the second flight of stairs.